This is not medical advice. Just a curious question. If you have a herniated disk in the spine is it automatically arthritic? If the lumbar region was MRI, does it also show the rest of the spine too?

I might be wrong... but I've always associated "arthritic" with degeneration of the bones and joints themselves. In which case a herniated disk is an issue and undoubtedly uncomfortable, but I don't think are the same, but again, no medical background and I could be wrong.

Herniated disc is not associated with arthritis; it is a slippery slope though. As you age and become arthritic, the herniated disc just becomes more painful. Most people seek medical attention leading to surgery before this happens.

Lumbar is low back. An MRI of that area doesn't show the entire spine.

I had a herniated disc between L4 and L5 (lumbar vertebrae). There never has been arthritis in my case, but can be in other cases.

Any MRI is subject to what the doctor orders done, and what he wants to know according to what you tell him your issues are. There are many types of arthritis, and degrees of severity, and back issues can be related to the arthritis, but usually they are two separate issues.

As we age we can have many medical issues, for example obesity and diabetes can be related and treated together but back issues and arthritis are not lumped together, but can be part of the same pain management treatment.

Tests will identify what type arthritis you have, and then you go from there as far a treatments for it.